Peru ousts President Jeri because of China-linked secret meetings

Peru's Congress ousted President Pedro Jeri in Lima on June 5, 2023, following revelations of secret meetings with Chinese officials that allegedly violated national sovereignty and economic protocols. The controversial meetings, which took place over several months in undisclosed locations, involved discussions about mining concessions and infrastructure projects that would have given Chinese companies preferential treatment without proper legislative approval. Opposition parties uncovered the communications through intercepted communications and whistleblower testimonies, triggering immediate political backlash across the Peruvian political spectrum. President Jeri, who had maintained warm relations with Beijing since taking office in 2022, defended the meetings as 'standard diplomatic engagements' but faced mounting evidence suggesting the discussions bypassed Peru's democratic institutions and potentially compromised national interests. The constitutional crisis has plunged Peru into its period of political instability in recent years, with citizens taking to the streets in both support and condemnation of the congressional action.